Mariners sign right-handed pitcher Ruben Alaniz

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has signed free agent right-handed relief pitcher Ruben Alaniz.
With the addition of Alaniz, Seattle's 40-man roster is now at 33 players. 
Alaniz, 27, was limited to 31 relief appearances in 2018 after two stints on the disabled list, going 3-4 with 4 saves and a 3.38 ERA (16 ER, 42.2 IP) combined between Double-A Montgomery (4/3-6/18), GCL Rays (6/19-20), High-A Charlotte (6/21-24) and Triple-A Durham (6/25-end of season). The 6-4, 220-pound right-handed reliever, combined to limit opponents to a .215 (34x158) average, while walking 16 and striking out 33. He averaged 11.18 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, including striking out a season-high 6 batters in 2.0 innings on Aug. 17 at Pawtucket with Durham (2.0,2,0,0,1,6). Alaniz was on the disabled list April 18-May 18 with a right calf strain and May 31-June 21 with a left calf strain. He also made 2 rehab appearances, including 1 with the GCL Rays on June 19 at GCL Red Sox (1.0,0,0,0,0,1) and 1 with Charlotte on June 21 at Palm Beach (2.0,0,0,0,1,4). After returning from his second DL stint, he went 1-3 with 3 saves and a 4.00 ERA (12 ER, 27.0 IP) in 20 relief appearances with Durham. 
Alaniz was originally signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent by the Houston Astros on Aug. 14, 2009. The McAllen, TX, native is 45-41 with a 4.29 ERA (320 ER, 671.2 IP) in 240 career minor league games, 83 starts over 9 minor league seasons with Houston (2010-15), Detroit (2016-17) and Tampa Bay (2018).